The fact the Canadiens have yet to re-sign Subban has Habs followers concerned new GM Marc Bergevin isn’t sold on the talented, brash young defenseman, giving rise to trade and offer sheet rumors.

Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer weighed in soon after the RDS report hit Twitter, citing a Flyers source claiming there was “nothing to it.”

It is highly unlikely the Canadiens will shop their most talented defenseman, but if Bergevin were so inclined, moving Subban to a team within their own conference – one which has eliminated them twice from playoff competition (2008, 2010) in recent years – seems like the last thing he would do.

Bergevin could ask for a promising young center like Sean Couturier as part of the return, but Subban’s departure would create a hole on the Habs blueline too big to fill this season via trade or free agency.

BLACKHAWKS HOARD BLUELINERS

The Chicago Blackhawks opted to make a veteran addition to their blueline prior to the expiration of the CBA, signing former Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Michal Rozsival to a one-year, $2 million contract.

That move increased the number of Blackhawks defensemen to nine battling for six roster spots, prompting Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago to muse over who’d be the odd man out.
Steve Montador is one possibility. He lost the final five games of the ’11-12 regular season and all six Blackhawks playoff games to a concussion. In an early August interview with the Chicago Tribune, Montador claimed he was feeling better, but was uncertain if his symptoms would return when he faces contact during training camp.

Montador is entering the second season of a four-year contract with an annual cap hit of $2.8 million.

Rogers suggested management could place Montador on waivers, demote him to the minors or trade him to a club in need of reaching the salary cap floor, depending on what’s contained in the next CBA.

If he’s still suffering post-concussion symptoms, he could also be placed on long-term injury reserve.

Rogers also suggested Niklas Hjalmarsson as another possibility, noting his name was floated in trade rumors earlier this summer.

How the Blackhawks address this situation will likely be determined in training camp, whenever that is.

Rumor Roundup appears Monday-Friday only on thehockeynews.com. Lyle Richardson has been an NHL commentator since 1998 on his website, spectorshockey.net, and is a contributing writer for Eishockey News, Kukla's Korner and The Guardian, Charlottetown.